Help Wild Birds

09/02/2026

A little flashback to another successful release. An Eastern Screech Owl that was injured when flying across the road. Fully recovered after weeks in care and returned to the "better side" of the road where he was found. There's a large drop off to a forested area beyond the first line of trees.
Bye bye Bruce.
The police officer named the bird, Bruce Screechstein.
Note that as wildlife rehabilitators we only name our educational ambassadors or foster birds. It keeps us from being "attached" to them and also its a reminder that the rehabbed birds are wildlife not pets.
Learn more and help our cause at www.helpwildbirds.org

06/13/2026

LESSON FOR THE DAY ~ Always place injured birds that can't stand up by themselves in a "doughnut" and place them in a box. Do not give them any food or water.
This bird is a Northern Mockingbird. It was found on the ground last night and was laying on its back. The person did put the bird in a box but it could not stand and was left laying on its side. The finder also dripped some water down the bird's mouth before calling for help. Not a good thing to do.
While on the phone, I had them make a nice "doughnut" for the bird so it could be in an upright natural position. After they did that they said the bird looked more comfortable and alert.
Unfortunately the mocker came in "mouth breathing." It is hard to say if the mouth breathing is from being aspirated when it was given water or if it was from the impact.
SO - Please keep birds supported upright in a box (as shown in the photo below) not laying on their side. Birds have air sacs along the sides of their body that expand and contract when the the bird breathes. Injured birds should be gently supported so air sacs can expand and contract and the bird can breathe easily. Do not try to give any food or water - unless you are instructed otherwise by your rehabber. You can very easily aspirate an injured bird and that alone can kill a bird. Help save a bird, feel free to share.
Learn more at www.helpwildbirds.org
There is more information on our website and guidance on what to do if you find a bird that needs help.

06/07/2026

BLUEBIRD NESTBOX INFORMATION ~
Here's a reminder to read this good information if you want your bluebirds to have their best chance at survival.
Boxes on trees or posts may work until they dont. We hear from people and see a lot of posts about eventual failures. How sad.
Why take a chance when its so easy to do this right!
Please READ and learn and most of all, follow the instructions. Use a pole and wobbling baffle for protection against predators when putting up a bluebird nest box, not a tree, nor a fence, nor a wooden post for these precious baby bluebird. It works if you do it right!
Don't forget to keep your cats indoors as no baffle will keep a cat from catching a bird that's flying in or out of a nest box.
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Feel free to share this message from Help Wild Birds and the North American Bluebird Society
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05/08/2026

PLEASE SHARE! ~ WHAT TO DO FOR BIRDS THAT HIT WINDOWS.
Here is some prevention ideas and advice. Please read it all and share so you can dispell the myths and save birds.
We at have had lots of bird collision calls today and to prevent this from happening here's a link to products you can use to prevent this from happening.
https://abcbirds.org/products/
Help Wild Birds endorses these products if you follow their directions.
A BIRD HIT MY WINDOW WHAT DO I DO?
Put the bird in a cardboard box lined with a paper towel says our Director, Maureen Eiger - Then call a bird rehabilitator for advice and help. Don't just open the box outside to see if the bird will fly away!
BUT WHY NOT? Its an old myth that the bird, if it makes noise in the box, is ok so let it go. BUT, it's usually not ok and the bird will probably die later because even if it flys off, it's not at 100% and at the very minimum is in pain.
As a liscenced bird rehabilitator I actually see what happens to window hit birds since I often end up rehabbing the birds that are picked up after hitting a window and even those that "fly off" and then are found later. Especially after someone calls me but let the bird go because it was "making noise" in the box.
Yes, I often return calls where the person already let the bird go from the box "because it was making noise" and often I ask the caller to look for the bird. And very often they do find the bird on the ground in the bushes or in a corner and can recapture it, put the bird back in the box and then bring it to me for proper care.
WHAT TO DO? All window hit birds that you can pick up should be placed in a cardboard box lined with a paper towel and should be kept secure until they are taken to a wildlife rehabilitator for an exam and medical care. At the very least message them a photo after the bird is contained in the box.
Know that if you can pick a bird up off the ground, it's injured. Often because birds are scared and prey animals, birds will get knocked out, then get an adrenaline rush when they "come to" if touched and fly off. To you they appear to be ok because you never see the outcome afterwards. I do. The birds may not be able to find food or even eat it (I often have to hand feed a concussed bird for 24 hours) and if you let the bird fly off you don't see that it ends up starving if it wasnt taken in for care.
You also don't see that the bird is in pain and possibly has a coracoid fracture or swelling starting from a concussion or busted air sac.
Any bird hitting a window and is knocked out for any length of time please put the bird in a cardboard box for safety since it needs to be checked out by a bird rehabilitator or at the very least call to get some advice. Also don't let it just sit there just watching it and waiting for it to fly away. Rescue the bird!
If you were hit by a car you would go to an ER to check for internal injuries etc. Same as a bird only 40 to 60 grams in weight hitting a window.
The only ones that seem to be ok are the ones that graze a window but immediately fly off. If they do, they are usually ok and never found on the ground to be picked up.
So next time call a bird rehabilitator near you and take the bird there for proper care. You will then be saving its life.
Learn more and if you need help contact www.helpwildbirds.org for more information.

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04/13/2026

Please share. Most of the baby birds we get in at www.helpwildbirds.org are because of cat attacked parents or baby birds from pulled down nests by an outdoor cat. Even nests in wreaths or flower pots are pulled down!
Did you know cats can jump up to 10 feet in the air?
That means even your nestboxes may not be safe as cats can jump and often catch a parent bird as it flys in (or out) to feed it's babies.
We get in a lot of adult birds that were cat caught while trying to feed their babies, especially bluebirds.
Birds aren't safe anymore because of the growing number of free roaming cats left outside.
So build a catio, get cat proof fencing for your yard, or just keep your cat indoors!
Safer for birds
Safer for your cat too!
Please share this message from

500 Trips to Build a Home. One Tuesday Afternoon to End It.
She made 500 exhausting trips to weave her nest, twig by twig. On the fifth day, a neighbor’s roaming cat was silently waiting on her landing branch.

We view outdoor cats as harmless, natural predators simply living out their instincts.

In reality, domestic cats are an introduced super-predator. Right now in April, native cavity-nesters like the Carolina Wren (Status: Secure) are fiercely building nests to raise their first spring broods. Because they evolved without domestic felines, these tiny birds have zero biological defense against them. Free-roaming cats kill up to 4 billion birds annually in the U.S., driving localized ecological collapse.

Wrens are vital, interconnected pest controllers. They tirelessly hunt spiders, caterpillars, and beetles to feed their chicks, keeping suburban insect populations naturally balanced. When a cat destroys a nesting female, it permanently fractures that local food web.

You can stop this preventable loss today. Keep your cats indoors, build them a secure outdoor "catio," or supervise their outside time.

She made 500 trips to build a future. Keep your cat inside, and let her live to see day seven.

04/11/2026

A BIRD IDENTIFICATION TIP~ Is that MY robin?
Very observant people can actually tell one robin from the other. Can you? Did you ever notice that every robin has a unique pattern of white feathers around its eyes? If you focus on that pattern, you can see if it's the same robin that's building a nest, your local bird or a new bird to your area.
You can also tell the males from the females most of the time. The males have much darker colored charcoal black feathers on their heads than the females do, though occasionally its hard to see the difference in first year birds.
Here is the robin that recovered from a coracoid bone fracture while being rehabbed at . It has stayed around a few days now and now visited my deck. Notice how large and wide the bird's white "eyeliner" (aka in bird id as a broken eye ring) is.
Can you now identify the different robins visiting at your place? Try looking at the feathers around their eyes and see.

04/10/2026

LESSON FOR THE DAY - Planting native plants that birds will eat or drink nectar from will help you save money in the long run and is a much better way to survive.
We as a society have planted so many invasive plants and trees that birds are loosing their natural habitat.
So make an effort this spring (and summer and fall) to plant only native plants and trees that will attract birds, butterflies and bees.
It's a small thing to do but it will make a difference when you plant only native plants on your property and encourage your localities to only plant natives.
Lists per region are found on many websites.
We will post some links in the comments below.

03/18/2026

A BIRD NOTE ~
This is a reminder to clean out those nest boxes and any p**p leftover from winter roosting birds. Cavity nesting birds will be looking for a place to build a home. Give them a fresh start! Here is a chart to help you make sure you have the right hole size to attract the bird(s) you would like to have as "neighbors."
One box works for two species if you put a metal hole reducer for only chickadees if you are using a bluebird box. Then remove it after the chickadees finish nesting so that bluebirds and tree swallows will have a home.
Remember chickadees (usually) only nest once a year and are early nesters so help them out.
If squirrels have somehow chewed the hole, add a metal hole guard to your box so its the right size and to keep them from making it bigger.
Keep your cats indoors and don't forget to use the proper poles and predator guards so you can have a successful nesting season.
Learn more on how to Help Wild Birds at www.helpwildbirds.org or message us or give us a call.
Hopefully you will have some successful nesting outcomes this year.
Feel free to share.

01/23/2026

BIRD TIP - Extended cold temperatures can take a big toll on some species of birds.
Carolina wrens are one of them. They tend to be more cold sensitive and die off when we have extended cold snaps. You can help by placing nest boxes up for them to take cover in, or even a leftover Christmas wreath.
NOTE~ If you find any bird all fluffed out and barely moving, walk over to it and try to pick the bird up. If you can pick it up, it probably needs help.
Place the bird in a covered cardboard box lined with a paper towel and with a few air holes punched in it and call your local bird rehabber (or message me) for further instructions.
This time of year we have only adult birds around our homes and they should be able to fly away if they are ok when approached.
Use www.animalhelpnow.org. to find a rehabber near you.
Let's try to survive through these cold temperatures. Photo courtesy of Leonora who found this carolina wren trying to seek shelter on her deck. Find more bird tips and stories at Help Wild Birds .org or at Help Wild Birds on facebook, https://www.facebook.com/HELPWILDBIRDS/